Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 124, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 June 1918 — THIS IS THE TRUE RED CROSS SPIRIT [ARTICLE]

THIS IS THE TRUE RED CROSS SPIRIT

A Little Story With a Big Thought in It. .

A month ago the Red Cross chapter in Bay City, Mich., received a hurryup call for 100 dunnage bags. Troops were about to move, and through an oversight their equipment was not complete. The bags had to be made and sent within 48 hours. A request for help was sent over the town, and the stores were searched successfully for the right materials. Among those who quickly responded and came to the chapter workrooms to help were two little girls, sisters, about ten and twelve years of age, each eager to lend a hand and do something tor the boys who were going to the front. All day long the fingers of the women and the little girls were fairly flying. Bag after bag received the last stitch until scores were piled up ready for shipment. Closing time came, and the woman superintending the making of the bags counted those- completed and announced that if every one of the workers could come early, the next morning and work all day the bags would surely be finished In time for shipping by evening. Two crestfallen little girls, the little sifters, were waiting for her at the door as she departed. _ Red Cross Dunnage Bags., “We are awfully sorry, ma’am,” said the older of the two, “but we can’t come back tomorrow. You see tomorrow we have to—” And, without finishing the sentence, she Iqoked baek wistfully at the pile of bags. “It is too bad you can’t come back,” said the superintendent, “but 1 want to thank you, and we all thank you, for the work you’ve done today. You two have been a wonderful help, and that pile of bags wouldn’t be nearly so big if you hadn’t been here. Good night.” The next morning when the superintendent came down to unlock the workrooms for the day she was astonished to see the two little girls standing in the cold by the locked door. “Oh, Tm so glad to see your she said. "I thought you said you couldn’t eomeF “Oh, we knew those Red Cress bags just had to be finished for the soldiers,” exclaimed the little t one, with glistening eyes, “and we got up at three o’clock this morning,aad got the washing done early I” • y